212 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ September, 
one thing, the next day something else, just as our health, or, perhaps, our 
temper may stand affected. Some prefer what they term mildness in the 
flavour of fruits ; this to me is mawkish insipidity. I prefer briskness in 
Figs—sugary lusciousness, which is found in well-ripened fruit of such 
varieties as Col de Signora Blanca, Col de Signora Nera, Grosse Verte, 
Bourjassotte Grise, and sometimes, although not quite so constantly, in White 
Ischia and Black Provence. Again, Figs themselves vary much in flavour, 
according to the situation or conditions under which they may he growing. 
Herein lies the charm of growing a number of varieties in the same house. 
Some of the higher-flavoured sorts require great heat and bright sun¬ 
shine to bring them up to full perfection; it may happen that these 
conditions cannot be fulfilled, the weather may be dull and sunless, and 
more heat may be required than can be given conveniently : then some of 
the second-rate sorts will surpass them in flavour. The little White Ischia 
is very fickle in this respect, the fruits of to-day are excellent, those of three 
days hence watery and tasteless. Bourjassotte Grise is the most constantly 
good variety under all conditions that I have found; White Marseilles 
comes second, although it is never very rich. 
Hardiness .—This is a point of the utmost importance ; it is exceedingly 
important to discover what are the varieties most suitable for cultivation in 
the open air in this country. I have not yet had time to prove much in 
this respect. The county of Sussex, as is well known, is famed for its Fig 
trees. In the gardens at Arundel Castle the White Marseilles, called there 
White Geneva, succeeds admirably as an open standard. I have eaten some 
exceedingly good fruit of that variety grown on these trees; and I am told 
that in some of the warmest seasons they ripen off two crops of fruit, but 
this is rather unusual. The Black or Blue Ischia is the next hardiest 
variety that has been proved; then on walls, Lee’s Perpetual or Brown 
Turkey ; and lastly, the Brunswick. These four constitute the whole of the 
stock of hardy Figs I have met with, suited for open-air cultivation. It 
must be borne in mind that our seasons are far too short to allow of the 
Fig producing more than the first crop of fruit. Almost all the fruits that 
ripen out of doors in this country are produced on the shoots of the former 
season’s growth ; therefore, I think, all varieties that produce their crop in 
this manner will prove suitable for open-air cultivation. I know of only 
two others that are possessed of this property of “first bearing” (as it 
is called in Fig countries), which I can recommend for cultivating in the 
open air; they are—Grosse Monstreuse de Lipari and De la Madeleine, 
both of which bear a good first crop, and very rarely the second. 
Fruitfulness .—As a general rule, the smallest varieties are the most 
prolific. Of these, White Ischia, Black Provence, and CEil de Perdrix bear 
fruit as profusely as an ordinary Gooseberry bush. Some others, again, 
